180 years ago today - Apr 8, 1840

[Joseph Smith prophecies]
... Afterwards read the parable of the 12 olive trees and said speaking of the Land of Zion [DEL: that :DEL] It consists of all N. & S America but that any place where the Saints gather is Zion which every righteous man will build up for a place of safety for his children [DEL: that :DEL] The olive trees are 12 stakes which are yet to be built not the Temple in Jackson [County, Missouri] as some suppose for while the 12 [DEL: olive :DEL] stakes are being built we will be at peace but the Nations of the Earth will be at war.

... The redemption of Zion is the redemption of all N & S America and those 12 stake must be built up before the redemption of Zion can take place and those who refuse to gather and build when they are commanded to do so cease to be Saviours of men and are henceforth good for nothing but shall be cast out and trodden underfeet of men ... Then the Enemy shall [DEL: brak :DEL] come as a thief in the night and scatter the servants abroad when the seed of these 12 Olive trees are scattered abroad they will wake up the Nations of the whole Earth Even this Nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground and when the constitution is upon the brink of ruin this people will be the Staff upon which the Nation shall lean and they shall bear [DEL: away :DEL] the constitution away from the very verge of destruction --...Then the Kings & Queens shall come then the rulers of the Earth shall come then shall ail saints come yea the Foreign saints shall come to fight for the Land of my vineyard ... --But before this the time shall be [DEL: when :DEL] these who are now my friends shall become my enemies and shall seek to take my life and [DEL: shall be m :DEL] there are those now before me who will more furiously pursue me [DEL: and :DEL] the more dilligently seek [DEL: to :DEL] my life and be more blood thirsty upon my track than ever were the Missouri Mobbers You say among yourselves as did them of old time it is I & is it I But I know these things by the visions of the Almighty.

But brethren come ye yea come all of you who can come and go to with your mights and build up the cities of the Lord and whosoever will let him come and partake of the poverty of Nauvoo freely for those who partake of her poverty shall also [DEL: shall also :DEL] partake of her prosperity. And it is now wisdom in God that we should enter into as compact a city as posible for Zion and Jerusalem [DEL: and :DEL] must both be built up before the coming of Christ [DEL: This will near a half of a century :DEL] How long will it take to do this 10 years Yes more than 40 years will pass before this work will be accomplished and when these cities are built then shall the coming of the Son of man be

... --And I prophecy in the name of the Lord that the state of Illinois shall become a great [DEL: mountain :DEL] and mighty mountain as a city set upon a hill that cannot be hid and a great that giveth light to the world [DEL: and :DEL] The city of Nauvoo als [o] shall become the greatest city in the whole world.

... We will build upon the top of this Temple a great observatory a great and high watch tower and in the top thereof we will Suspend a tremendous bell [DEL: whi :DEL] that when it is rung shall rouse the inhabitants of Madison wake up the people of Warsaw and sound in the ears of men [in] Carthage Then comes the ancient records yea all of them dig them yea bring them forth speedily

Then shall the poor be fed by the curious who shall come from all parts of the world to see this wonderful temple Yea I prophecy that pleasure parties shall come from England to see the Mamoth and like the Queen of Sheba shall say the half never was told them. School houses shall be built here and High schools shall be established and the great men of the [earth] shall send their sons here to board while they are receiving their education among us And even Noblemen shall crave the priviledge of educating their children with us and these poor saints shall chink in their pockets the money of these proud men received from such as come and dwell with us

Now brethren I obligate myself to build as great a temple as ever solomon did if the church will back me up. Moreover it shall not impoverish any man but enrich thousands I prophecy that the time shall be when these saints shall ride proudly over the mountains of Missouri and no Gentile dog nor Missouri dog shall dare lift a tongue against them but will lick up the dust from beneath their feet and I pray the father that many here may realize this and see it with their eyes. And if it should be (Stretching his hand towards the place and in a melancholly tone that made all hearts tremble) will of God that I might live to behold that temple completed and finished from the foundation to the top stone I will say Oh Lord it is enough Lord let thy servant depart in peace...

[The Words of Joseph Smith by Joseph Smith by Andrew F. Ehat and Lyndon W. Cook]

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